Man who refused to turn on co-defendants gets prison time
NORWICH – A man who threw himself at the mercy of the court instead of testifying against his co-defendants appeared in Chenango County Court Friday to be sentenced.
Anthony J. Pierce, 17, had pleaded guilty to the top charge against him, third-degree burglary, without reaching any agreement with the prosecution. Pierce was facing up to 7 years in state prison last Friday, but was sentenced to 1 to 3 by County Court Judge W. Howard Sullivan. It was also requested by both the defense and prosecution that Pierce be enrolled into Shock, a bootcamp-like, prison program. The court then recommend the program. The defense reserved its right to appeal.
“I’m sorry. I’m not proud of myself,” Pierce said before receiving his sentence.
Before, sentencing Defense Attorney Scott Clippinger said, “If only he had confirmed the police officer’s remarks, then he would have walked. He will not perjure himself. It should also be pointed out that neither my client nor I, have had the chance to confront the officer here in court.”
Trooper Timothy J. Thatford testified at a prior court hearing for Pierce’s co-defendant, Daniel Sabines, 20, and claimed that Pierce had admitted to him at the time of the investigation that the two broke into a local business together, but then stated he wouldn’t go on the record about it.
District Attorney Joseph McBride said he was asking for a “strong” sentence because, in his opinion, Pierce lied.
“Because he lied, he should go to prison for two and a third to seven years. If he wants to be a gangster, he can be a gangster in prison,” said McBride prior to Pierce making his plea a few weeks ago.
Pierce had appeared before the court three times in a month in an attempt to plea. Originally, the DA offered a plea bargain if he testified against Sabines. The two men were charged with breaking into Chenango Welding Supply March 10 and allegedly stealing $125 in cash. The plea bargain would have allowed Pierce to serve a year in the local jail instead of facing two and a third to seven years in state prison. Each time Pierce came to the court, he accepted his own role, but refused each time to implicate any other parties.
Police said they discovered two separate sets of shoe prints in the snow outside and inside of the burglarized building. The prints allegedly matched Pierce’s and Sabines’ shoes. Also, police discovered a key to the business and rolled change in the crashed vehicle the suspects were allegedly driving.
Pierce and Sabines were both indicted by a grand jury on 3rd degree burglary (D felony) and petit larceny charges.
Anthony J. Pierce, 17, had pleaded guilty to the top charge against him, third-degree burglary, without reaching any agreement with the prosecution. Pierce was facing up to 7 years in state prison last Friday, but was sentenced to 1 to 3 by County Court Judge W. Howard Sullivan. It was also requested by both the defense and prosecution that Pierce be enrolled into Shock, a bootcamp-like, prison program. The court then recommend the program. The defense reserved its right to appeal.
“I’m sorry. I’m not proud of myself,” Pierce said before receiving his sentence.
Before, sentencing Defense Attorney Scott Clippinger said, “If only he had confirmed the police officer’s remarks, then he would have walked. He will not perjure himself. It should also be pointed out that neither my client nor I, have had the chance to confront the officer here in court.”
Trooper Timothy J. Thatford testified at a prior court hearing for Pierce’s co-defendant, Daniel Sabines, 20, and claimed that Pierce had admitted to him at the time of the investigation that the two broke into a local business together, but then stated he wouldn’t go on the record about it.
District Attorney Joseph McBride said he was asking for a “strong” sentence because, in his opinion, Pierce lied.
“Because he lied, he should go to prison for two and a third to seven years. If he wants to be a gangster, he can be a gangster in prison,” said McBride prior to Pierce making his plea a few weeks ago.
Pierce had appeared before the court three times in a month in an attempt to plea. Originally, the DA offered a plea bargain if he testified against Sabines. The two men were charged with breaking into Chenango Welding Supply March 10 and allegedly stealing $125 in cash. The plea bargain would have allowed Pierce to serve a year in the local jail instead of facing two and a third to seven years in state prison. Each time Pierce came to the court, he accepted his own role, but refused each time to implicate any other parties.
Police said they discovered two separate sets of shoe prints in the snow outside and inside of the burglarized building. The prints allegedly matched Pierce’s and Sabines’ shoes. Also, police discovered a key to the business and rolled change in the crashed vehicle the suspects were allegedly driving.
Pierce and Sabines were both indicted by a grand jury on 3rd degree burglary (D felony) and petit larceny charges.
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